Sport
Fantastic JNA!
... local body raises over $2-m for WYC
BY Andre Lowe Observer staff reporter lowea@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, July 05, 2009
The Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) has raised over $2 million towards its World Youth Netball Championship (WYNC) campaign through several initiatives, such as their latest 'tin drive' which took place during the second One-Day International between the West Indies and India at Sabina Park last week Sunday.
 |
| BERNARD... the man in the street is helping us go to World Championships |
Spectators donated over $300,000 towards the programme to further bite into the trip's $7 million overall budget.
This comes on the heel of a number of other fund-raising initiatives undertaken by the Marva Bernard-led JNA administration, such as an earlier tin drive which took place during the Jamaica versus Panama friendly international at the National Stadium; a theatrical play, shoe drive, promotion through banking paraphernalia handed out to customers and several cake sales and raffles.
At the start of June, the JNA faced a deficit of $3.5 million, but Bernard is buoyed by the outpouring of support from members of the public and said the organisation will continue to fight its way towards securing the necessary funds to assure the travel of the girls without sacrificing their finances.
"The response was tremendous and I can even say that if we were able to use more girls to go throughout the venue, I'm sure we would have doubled what we got because people were very supportive and encouraging," beamed Bernard.
"When we (JNA) sat down at the beginning of the year, we realised that there was a recession and figured it would be difficult for companies to help us.
"We drafted a whole lot of initiative. We've always had to place a lot of emphasis of fund-raising, but this time we've had to make a lot more sacrifices," she added.
One major sacrifice has been the suspension of the Under-16 programme until after the completion of the WYNC so that all available funds can be pumped into the Under-21s bid for top honours at the Cook Islands competition.
Bernard described this move as a painful one, but assured that it was a temporary step to facilitate the 'Young Sunshine Girls'.
Banking giants Scotiabank - which also sponsors the Under-13 and Under-16 programmes - has also committed itself to paying the full expense of at least one member of the team, while another unnamed company has offered to do the same.
Long-time team sponsors Spike Industries, which has been rehydrating the team with juices and water since 2006, is also expected to assist.
However, it's the demonstration of public backing that has moved the veteran administrator Bernard, who pointed out that the fund-raising efforts will continue until the team leaves in early August for the tournament, which unfolds in the South Pacific chain of islands.
"What is great is that the ordinary man in the street is helping us to go. We're leaving here because of the man in the street and this is a great sense of motivation for all of us.
"We will still be out there doing raffles and cake sales up until the point where we leave in August; we just cannot afford to stop," said Bernard, who also serves as director of finance for the sport's world governing body, the IFNA.
Other Stories
TG face Georges in DPL first-round final
Buff Bay abuzz over Georges' feat
TG want to do it for slain Simpson
Manning race intensifies after latest round
JFF moves to reprimand KSAFA boss
Kangaroos retain local one-day title
Trainer's death raises security concerns
Arsenal go second after 4-1 rout
5 comments
ISSA bans reckless father for three years
3 comments
Gayle presents $500,000 worth of sporting goods to schools
3 comments
1 comment
RSS Feeds